Phonograph sound-box.



Patented Jam. 4, 1916.

WITNESSES MJQ CHARLES W. WALLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHONOGRAPH SOUND-BOX.

Specification ax Letters Patent Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application filed April 30, 1915. Serial No. 24,859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. a citizen of the United States, risiding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of have invented new and useful lmprovernents in Phonograph Sound-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sound reproducing boxes for use in connection with soundrecording and reproducing machines, and .t is to be understood that the invention s adapted for any p for which it s found applicable, and the object thereof 1s to provide a sound box for phonographs, graphophones or the like, whereby an 1111- proved character of sound 15 produced and in which the vibrations of great frequency will be absorbed or eliminated to remove the objectionable squeaks and similar metallie or foreign sounds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound box which shall be simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, and in which the diaphragm and most of the stylus-arm may be entirely inclosed- A further of the invention is to provide a sound box in which the body, stylus head and etc. may be constructed of sheet metal, and the diaphragm of cork, or the like, if dsired.

A still further object is to provide a sound box which will prevent the solmd waves from escaping into the air from the outside or inoperative side of the dia With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more mifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto no pended.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate similar parts in the averal views, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sound box in accordance with this invention, taken on lines 22 and 3-3 of 2 and 3 respectively, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2 is a front view of 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same, showing a portion cut away for the purpose of a clearer illustration of the parts, and looking in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a top View, partly in section, of the stylus head and support therefor, taken on line -ll of Fig. l and looking in the direction of arrow B; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a section of a modified form of diaphragm.

Referring to the drawings, the body portion of the sound box 1 is formed of two oppositely osed sections, 2, 3, the latter being prefiii bly concavo-convex shaped, and the former being preferably formed into a concavo-convex ring 4 provided with a central neck 5, the said neck having a sound passage 6. The peripheries of the said sections 2, 3 are provided with fiat cir cular portions 7, 8, the outer edge of which is preferably bent inwardly to form flanges 9, 10 respectively. The inside of these flat portions and flanges serve to hold in place elastic or flexible washers or gaskets 11, 12 between which a diaphragm 13, preferably of cork or the like, is held in place, the screws ll serving to retain the several parts in place and to regulate the degree of pressure between the washers 11 and 12 and the diaphragm.

The employment of the cork diaphragm will eliminate the objectionable squeaks and similar metallic or foreign sounds and will make it possible to construct sound boxes of large dimensions, and it is to be understood that when a cork diaphragm is employed, the washers 11 and 12 may, if desired, be entirely eliminated.

To improve the character of sound, absorb or eliminate the vibrations of great frequency, and to remove the objectionable squeaks and similar metallic or foreign sounds, when a diaphragm of other suitable material is employed. such as, for instance, mica, the diaphragm is preferably provided with one or more weights, in the present instance in the form of twin rings 15, of any suitable material, preferably a non-resilient or non-sound-conducting material. such as, for instance, lead or solder. These rings may be joined together and fastened to the diaphragm by means of pins or bolts 16 pas ing through the diaphragm.

I have made practical tests with a sound box provided with a cork diaphragm and have found that all objectionable squeaks and similar metallic or foreign sounds have been eliminated entirely by the use of the said cork diaphragm, and that the tones are clear and natural, producing a rich mellow tone, also that the soft tones or sound colors are clearly and naturally brought out. Many of these soft tones or sound colors have heretofore been completely drowned out or obliterated by the use of diaphra ms of mica or lpfiier materials, iince slpch dis hragms uce, more or ess, jeetioniible squealis and similar metallic or foreign sounds, whereas a cork diaphragm will pro duce none of these objectionable sounds, for

the reason that no metallic or foreign sounds will emanate from cork, and for the reason thatcorl; is not as hard as mica. Also, cork is capable of vibra only as it is forced to vibrate by the latera movement of the stylus arm, thereby causing only such sounds as the record will give out through the stylus A stylus arm 17,'preferably of sheet metal, has its upper and twisted at a right angle and secured to the diaphragm by means of a small screw 18, the lower end of said stylus arm being bent to form a stylus head 19, the said. stylus head having four sides or walls 20, 21, 22 and '23, the wall 22 being pro vided with rivets 24 which pass through holes or openings in the end of the wall 23, thus forming a strong combined stylus head and arm of sheet metal The said stylus ead is also provided with a threaded opening in wall 21 through which a screw :25onthethumb-disk26ispased. Apin or bolt 27 provided with a head 28 is passed thronghasmooth openinginthe wall23,the said bolt being joined to the screw '25, thus providingmeans for holding the stylus 29 securely in place, the head 28 on the bolt 2? preventing the screw :25 from being turned completely out of the stylus head and thereby probably 1&1).

In order to prevent the stylus fi'om moving too for upwardly in the stylus head, a small portion of the wall '23 is bent inwardly so as to form a stop 29', against which the top end of the stylus 29 abuts. The said stylus head 19 is also provided with elastic members 30 and 31, preferably of rubber or felt, located next to the walls 20 and 22 re speetively, through which am fingers 32 and 33 rmpectively, the said members acting to exist in regulating the degree of pressure between the end portions 3; and and the stylus head The somid box section 3 is provided at its lower with the of downwardly and outwardly extending end portions 3i and 35, through which am the fingers 32 and 33, forming in efi'ect a hinge andnlovably connecting the said section with the said stylus arm and head, thereby allowing lat eral movement of the said stylus, stylus arm and head to vibrate the diaphragm. In 01'- der to regulate and adjust the lateral move ment of the said stylus, stylus head and arm,

the said end portions 34 and 35 are provided with threaded and unthreaded openings, respectively, through which is screwed and passed. respectively. ascrew 36.

To allow the section 3 to be put into place and to allow lateral movement of the stylus arm 17, a vertical elongated opening or slot 37 is provided in the lower portion of the said section 3, and this opening may, if desired to absolutely inclose all sounds be tween the section 3 and the diaphragm, be entirely covered or closed by any suitable flexible or yieldable material, not shown.

If desired, the modified form of twin rings shown in Fig. 5 may be employed, instead of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which 38 is the diaphragm, 39 the rings of any suitable material, preferably a non-re silient or non sound-conducting material, such as, for instance, lead or solder. The said diaphragm and twin rings are fastened together by means of screws 40.

I wish it understood that any-suitable material may be employed in the manufacture of the said invention, but I prefer to employ a non-resilient or non-soimd-conducting material in the manufacture of the sections 2 and 3 and the twin rings 15 or 39, as the case may be. I also wish it understood thatthe diaphragn 13 or 38, as the case may be, may be, if desired, made or molded in one piece, of any suitable material, or made of cork or the like, instead of as shown and described, and that the twin rings may, if desired, be eliminated entirely.

What I claim is- 1. In a sound box, the combination of a diaphragm, a covering for the outside or inoperative side of the diaphragm, the lower portion being provided with an opening, :1

ins arm passing through said opening, and a yieldable pastelike or jellylike material closing said opening between said cover ing and stylus arm, whereby the sounds from the outside or inoperative side of the diaphragm will be prevented from reaching the outside air.

2. I11 a sound box, a casing, a pair of downwardly extending end portions formed on said casing, a stylus arm and head, a piece of flexible material between each of said end portions and stylus head, said stylus head having fingers paming through openings in said end portions, and a screw passing through said end portioins, whereby the degree of pressure may be regulated between said stylus head, flexible material and end portions.

In a sound box, a stylus head having a front, rear, and side walls, said front wall having a threaded opening, said rear wall lot having a smooth ening, and a ,thumb In testimony whereof I have hereunto set screw provided with :1 threaded and unmy hand 11] the presence 01' two snhecnbing threaded portion, said threaded ind nn- Witnesses.

threaded portions being inserted in said CHARLES W. WALLIIR. 5 threaded and smooth openings, respectively, Witnesses:

and mid nnthreaded portion having its end J nxxn: V. Ih-nzoLAxn',

provided with a head. C. A. \YALLER.

having a smooth I screw provlded with a threaded and un- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 11] the presence oi two sni'iscrihing aming, and a ,thumb threaded portion, said threaded and unwitncsses. threaded portions being inserted in said CHARLES W. \VALLER. threaded and smooth openings, respectively, 'Witncssels:

and mid nnthrcaded portion having its end provugled with a head.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1 .166,953

JENNIE V. BERGLAND', U, A. \VALLER.

.' It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,166,;i53, granted iar-nary 1,

1916, upon the application of Charles Weller, of Chiczigo, Iiiiiiflib, for an imspecificaprovement in Phonograph Sound-Boxes,. errors appear in the prin N.- tion requiring correction as follows: Pegc il, line 47, for the word for rmtdflir,

same page, line 124, claim 2, for the word portioins read portions; and. that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the some Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D.,

[sEAnj I Act-mg Commissioner of Patents; 01. 181 -11 Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,166,953-

It. is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,166,953, granted .hmmry 1916, upon the application of Charles W. Walla-1301' Chit-ago, lllitmim M an improvement in Phonograph Sound-Boxes," orrors appear in tho prion-t! \[Hfifliiittltion requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 47, for the wwmi "for" r -mtjur same page, line 124, claim 2, for the word portioins read pm-rmns; and that Tim said Lettors Patent should be read with thcsc corrections therein that tho HLIHC may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiicc.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D., 1916.

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

] c1. isi-t 

